TRIBUTES have been paid to a former Birmingham Mail journalist who died at the age of 95.

Ted Richardson, who was born in Moseley but spent much of his life in Shirley, died on December 28.

He joined The Birmingham Gazette in 1930 and was actively involved with Birmingham Newspapers for around 70 years until he retired.

Between 1930 and 1956, Mr Richardson worked as a sports journalist on The Birmingham Gazette and Despatch, as well as spending many years on The Sporting Buff as a journalist and editor where his byline was Major Kettle.

In 1956, the Birmingham Post and Mail took over the Gazette Group and Mr Richardson was offered the position as greyhound reporter for the Birmingham Mail, which involved the production of a daily page in the midday edition of the newspaper.

Former sports editor of the Birmingham Mail Ian Johnson said: “Ted was absolutely devoted to greyhounds and was so highly respected within the sport it was untrue. He was so reliable and knew everything and everyone in the greyhound world.

“He was a lovely man and loved his sport. He was a great, great contributor to sport in Birmingham.”

Mr Richardson worked as the Mail’s greyhound reporter for 20 years until his retirement at the age of 65.

But he continued in a freelance capacity with his Rex Warwick horse racing article appearing in the Sunday Mercury, as well as work on The Sports Argus until 2000 when he finally decided to call it a day.

His son, Bill Richardson, aged 67, of Hockley Heath, described his father as “easy going and jovial”.

He added: “My father was very pleasant to people and worked very, very hard.

“He was very active and his main interest was sport of all kinds, in particular tennis, golf, snooker and darts.”

Mr Richardson had one son and four grandchildren from his first marriage, and two grandchildren from his second marriage.

His funeral is at Robin Hood Crematorium, in Shirley, on Wednesday at 11.30am.